Score Personalities as Comic Book Characters Part 1
Current mood: calm
Category: Sports


While on vacation, I spent most of my time on a hammock on the beach in Mexico. When you have that type of time, the mind tends to wander. My mind wandered to thinking of my colleagues as Comic Book Characters.

So for the next couple of weeks, I'll compare characteristics of some of my favorite Score personalities to members of the Marvel and D.C. Universe.

Jason Goff is Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, of the Fantastic 4. At first glance, you wouldn't think a black man in his 20's is comparable to a middle age white guy, but Jason has a lot of characteristics of Richards.

Both are under-appreciated; Reed as a hero, Jason as a talk-show host. Reed, is a brilliant scientist and the amount of information that he retains is remarkable. Jason has the same ability. You can ask him a question about the obscure, backup tailback at Virginia Tech and he'll have a bio, statistics and an example of why or why not this kid is a good player. All off the top of his head.

Reed's power to stretch himself makes him versatile. Jason is considered an expert on the NBA (and he is), but he can talk about everything because he watches EVERYTHING! A good scientist looks at all of the available data to come up with theories. Both Reed and Jason do this. But usually both rely on their own impeccable analysis to draw conclusions from. They're both right more than they're wrong. Jason and Reed are straightforward and almost clinical in the way they relay the information.

I enjoy that when Jason is on the air, he will challenge dissenters with fact, rarely emotion. It makes it hard to argue with him because he's not often rattled. Reed is the same way. He's always prepared and is flexible enough to change on the fly if all else fails. That's why he's one of the most respected minds in the Marvel Universe. Around the Score clubhouse, Jason is regarded the same way.

Next up, Zach Zaidman...

I rarely troll.

Nothing wrong with a little black on black love...

Goff should be disturbed the most about this.

Or the fact that Fred's Missing Nuts is subscribed to LoHo's blog....

Monday, January 21, 2008

Part 2-Zach Zaidman/Batman
Current mood: calm
Category: Sports



Continuing my series of Score personalities as figures from the world of Marvel and D.C. Comics. This is part 2.

Zach Zaidman is Batman. Double Z is meticulous in his methodology. A well educated man; he's one of the most researched individuals that I know. He believes in being prepared for every eventuality. This is similar to Batman. There isn't a situation that he doesn't feel ready for or an opportunity that he can't take advantage of.

On or off the air, Zach plays it cool. It's hard to tell what he's thinking because he has a great poker face. It's almost like he's wearing a mask. Remind you of anyone?

Like Batman, he' s a perfectionist. He wants things done the right way. Batman doesn't take for granted that everyone else is going to do their job, neither does Zach. He hopes for the best and preps for the worst.

Batman's utility belt is comparable to Zach's bag. He has everything in there. Extra batteries, Headphones, Cables, his laptop. And he's always checking with contacts on stories, like Batman's underground network.

Bruce Wayne is the perfect cover for "Bats" and Bears sideline reporter is the perfect cover for Double Z. On the surface, it looks as if Wayne is part of the establishment. He's a billionaire/playboy. One of the cities most respected citizens. Same for Zach. On the surface you would think his opinion is based on his proximity to the team, but it's not. Zach is one of the most critical guys on the Score. His criticism is both sophisticated and simple at the same time. It's straight talk backed up with inside information. Batman is pretty straightforward when dealing with enemies. Both are top of the line investigators as well.

I've worked with Zach for over 3 years on the Bears beat. I consider him one of my best friends at the station and one of my most trusted allies. That being said, most of Zach's life outside of the station is unknown. I'm not even sure I know where he likes to hang out, but I do know that when he actually does go out he has a GREAT TIME (I've seen evidence of "Bruce Wayne" at work). It's fair to say that his life is mysterious. Not unlike the Dark Knight. And that's the way Double Z wants it. Like Batman, you'll be let in when he wants and not before. Oh and he's from New York...sometimes referred to as "Gotham".

Next up: Dan Bernstein

Where does Larry write this stuff? I can't find it on the Score web site.

Two words...Creative Genius

if i'm in mexico - minus the wife - then work and/or chicago are the last 2 things i'll be thinking about, here are my first 2: chicas y cervecas.

I really wish Lawrence would come back to this site.

I rarely troll.

Continuing my series of Score personalities as figures from the world of Marvel and D.C. Comics. This is part 3.

Dan Bernstein is Lex Luthor Specifically, the Lex Luthor depicted in Superman, Red Son. I toyed with the idea of making Bernsy, Galactus, basically because it would bring Dan great glee to be compared to the "World Eater". The funny thing is that he took similar delight in being compared with Metropolis' mastermind, saying, "I love Lex Luthor!"

Luthor has a Level 12 intelligence. It's not enough to just be one of the smartest people in the universe, Luthor feels it necessary to prove his genius. So does Dan. Both Dan and Lex speak from places of authority with their shared history of a fantastic education and linguistic dexterity. Lex once stopped a rampaging Kal-El with a 6 word sentence. The sentence invalidated Superman's life and caused him to stop. Ah, the power of the written word. I'm pretty sure that an English Major from Duke (Dan) could appreciate that.

Both Dan and Lex have a look in their eyes, as if they know something that the rest of us don't. Most of the time they're right. When Dan is on the air, you can hear the pain in his voice when he has to explain himself more than once. It makes for even better radio when Dan gets frustrated when he's not fully understood. Luthor would "eliminate" simpletons. One wonders if Dan could, would he?

Lex and Dan are both admittedly arrogant, but their arrogance can be surprisingly charming. It explains why Dan has been so successful on the air and why Superman hasn't been able to rid the world of Lex.

Truth be told, we need them both. I'm convinced that a world where Superman goes unchallenged, is a world that I don't want to read about. Each day, Dan challenges the listener to look beyond what athletes and organizations are "spinning" to find the deeper truth. In Dan: Lovie, Lou, Pax, Kenny and Ozzie have an antagonist who keeps them on their toes. Someone who sifts through the half-truths to help the rest of us understand what's going on.

I find it fascinating that Lex spends his time between "projects" playing chess. He does so against multiple opponents on multiple boards, at the same time. He does it to keep his Level 12 mind "lubricated". It's equally fascinating to watch Dan solve Sudoku puzzles during commercial breaks. Apparently, great minds think alike.

Next up, Terry Boers...

I rarely troll.

The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.

Larry is the Tom Dreesen of sports radio. He hopes to achieve success through association rather than his own production.

I rarely troll.